|
|
 |
|
|
Pages: 1
High school 2 year plan
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)
Posted by: Freak
Hey I was wondering if anybody could give me their opinion on the following:
I'm in grade 10 right now, which is almost over. (Canadian private school) dont bash me yet ok about private schools 
I have max-ed out my courses for grade 11 and plans to fill up my grade 12 year too.
The problem is, since I'm not in Honors math right now, when I'm in grade 12, I will be forced to take Math 12 at the same time with Calculus 12 (not AP). Calculus is important to me because I would like to take Comp Sci in university as major, and universities look for this kind of stuff. Also taking (AP\Normal) Chem 12 and (AP\Normal)Physics 12 in grade 12.
I was wondering if I should take math 11 this summer / math 12 next summer during summer school, giving me time to take AP Calculus. However, many people tell me that taking a core class like math during summer school is a bad idea because of the lack of time and the amount of material they cover.
I'm going for universities with good reputations and with good Comp Science courses so that would be a guideline for your opinions.
AP Calculus could probably get me more options in the future.
So what do you all think?
And please nothing like "take what you like, its your life." I know its not healthy but my parents would like me to, but most importantly, my own motivation to get into a good university.
Thanks.
I talked with the college counselor guy, he frowns upon taking Math during summer school but people have been known to do that and they turn out fine.
This is all assuming I don't go into spasms and run around school ripping out my hair with bloodshot eyes over a too heavy work load. 
Posted by: Shalome
WARNING: Long academic rant/discussion ahead!
Don't short yourself on life, my friend.
I know it sounds cheesy, but there's a hell of a lot more to life than quick academic advancement. If you really, really think about it and decide that AP calc will get you where you will want to be in 10 years.. then go for it. There are two things to consider about summer core courses: 1) If you are intelligent (which, Freak, you've proven you are) you will probably end up with the same grasp on the material from a short course that you would end up with from a normal term-length course. 2) You are giving up a summer for what is basically a cram session that skims the material and covers all the bases, but gives you less time to practice and absorb what you're learning. It depends on what you consider important in the long run.
On the other hand, consider the very real possibilty of early academic burn-out. It can happen to the best, brightest, and most-motivated of us, and, to put it mildly, it ain't pretty. I know from experience (myself and several friends) that pushing yourself hard to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible does not necessarily easily translate into being able to handle university-level learning, where serious depth is required. For years, you can get the good marks, ace all the highest-level classes, test out of preliminary university courses... and then something just gives way and you stop caring as much. You realize that while you have a wide knowledge base, other people have a depth of knowledge that you are missing.
I'm not trying to limit you.. but as far as a Comp Sci major goes, there isn't that much difference at a university level between someone who's taken AP Calc vs. regular Calc. University courses are vastly different than high school, and are generally based off of other university courses. So if you take AP Calc and test out of beginning-level university calc.. you may not end up in the same place as the people who took the university first-level Calc. Then again, you might be one of the people who can do it...
Bottom line: Now that I'm through with both high school and university, I wish I'd taken more time in high school to learn the finer points, rather than trying to learn everything at once. It would have helped me do better in university classes that focused on nuances rather than basics.
So, I guess I'm being one of those lame people who are telling you "it's your life, do what you want..." But I hope I'm giving you some things to think about while you're making your decision.
Posted by: SKYHN
I have been told before that colleges look at weither you passed the class or not and what grade you got and not weither it was taken in summerschool as opposed to a normal school year.
Posted by: redwench
well, freaky, as someone who took ap calc my senior year, i would say, dont sweat the summer school. i chose not to take the ap test, and therefore repeated the calc in college, which was a good idea.
you are puzzled by this, i can tell. well, basically, the first 2 quarters of college calc covered almost all the hs stuff. so if i had tested well, i still wouldnt have gotten much for it. anyway, it gave me (along with chem) a nice little buffer to settle into college with. i wouldnt suggest anyone go to college into all new material.
nor would i suggest you take math in the summer. for one thing, youre going to be using that math12 (whatever that may be ) more than the calc.
oh, and no university really gives a damn about when you take your math classes. as long as you get thru trig, mit will be perfectly happy to take you they look at your transcript (courses/grades) and your test scores. the 1337 schools also look at your essay and your social crap.
basically, if you want to ease up your schedule for the next couple years, take health/govt/gym/history over the summer. but i wouldnt try math if youre planning on really understanding it.
Posted by: Kdr Kane
I would encourage you to go with the summer school.
You may find as I have, that short courses are far more preferable to the semester long courses. Semester long courses are too slow and boring. It will give you a little experience with short courses.
Anything that you do in addition to the "normal" regimen that other students take will show how you stand out from the crowd.
The type of self-discipline that you are developing will always help you in the "real world".
Posted by: Swilo
If you can handle the shorter class, go for it. The AP Calc exam will just get you out of a semester of math in college (possibly two if you take the BC instead of AB), nothing much else. A college won't see any real difference if you took the AP or not, but how you got to where you are. As Kane said "Anything that you do in addition to the "normal" regimen that other students take will show how you stand out from the crowd."
A word of warning about supposed "computer science" majors though : If the college you chose is anything like mine and just about every other one in the world, a computer science department could be translated into english as the "We only program" department. If you want to be a programmer, go with comp sci. I actually thought *GASP* that I'd learn about computers, but all I did, and all I would do for the next 3 years had I stayed there, was programming.
Posted by: Freak
OK...I think I won't take AP Calculus after all. Since for 1 full year of suffering I'll only get 1 semester course off, its not worth it.
Taking Math 12 and Calculus at the same time will still be stressful, but I guess I can do it.
BTW, its a good idea to pick up a programming language before I apply right? I was thinking of C++ but everybody and their brother learns this first and I was thinking maybe of an alternative. I'm already taking C++ lessons in Comp class.
PS And I don't think MIT takes anyone with an IQ below 250
Maybe I'll think about taking French 11 at summer school...since I absoultely suck at it.
Posted by: Null Actor
Just make sure to get your grade 12 math before your calc, and everything will be fine.
Dunno how it works in BC, but in alberta there are two semesters a year. If you have two semesters a year, just take your math before your calc.
Posted by: Freak
Trimester system, and courses are consistent throughout the whole year. So I have to take math 12 concurrently with calulus if I decide to do that.
Posted by: redwench
well, ask the calc teacher if its reasonable first :P no point in doing it if youre going to be lost.
Posted by: Chako
Is the 12 Math a prerequisite for Calc where your at? If so, then you will have to talk to the guidance dept and the math teachers. For instance, if it is a prerequisite, you may need the OK from the Calc teacher to take it currently with the 12 math.
Shalome is right about taking too much too soon. I did the same thing, with the envitable burn out period. Trying to do it all at once will result in mild bouts of depression (I don't know what else to call it...you feel like you want to sleep 24 hours a day, no joy, etc...), and your marks will suffer eventually. I did this in University. Nasty experience. My only saving grace was that I realized what was happening and decided to take things slower. My advice to you is to take your time, plan out your education if you can, and follow it...meanwhile being flexible. You will enjoy the experience more, to greater benefit. Besides, getting out a year earlier means little in the big scheme of things.
Posted by: Freak
You can take math 12 and cal at the same time, providing you got a B+ in Math 11.
And I have been taught in years of capp classes that taking the most challeneging workload is the best way to get noticed by univiersities. Which leads to the possibility of burning out i guess, but the teachers never said anything about it heh.
Well by now I've pretty much decided to take math 12 summer school after my grade 11 year during the summer, then taking math 12 again at the same time as Calculus during the regular year....it'll get me more points with math 12 during the school year course and make taking 2 math classes at the same time less demanding.
It might be wasting a summer, but summer school is only 3 weeks and 9-12 pm so I could still get a parttime job or something. Hopefully.
Thanks guys.
Posted by: Chako
Taking the most challenging workload does not make universities take notice of you...they only look at the end result..your marks. They don't have the time nor inclination to look deeper at you when it comes time for admission applications.
What it does is prepare you for the heavier workloads of University...what it prepares you for is the horrendous teachers you will encounter because they are so busy publishing to care for their students well beings. After all..aren't you there to help pay their way to publishing articles? These are the realities.
I took pure science all the way through High school and University. I took all the hardest courses because I wanted to be a research scientist when I grew up. Because of this, I needed all my maths, all my sciences,, etc..
Then when I went to University, I didn't have it easy either. Then it became hell on wheels. My typical school day started at 8:30 am, with classes and 3 hour labs per class, right up to 10:00 pm. This does not count time for homework. I typically had 2 hours of homework afterwards a night. You do the math.
Then after my first degree, I went for a second one...this is where the burn out comes in. It will eventually get you in the end. I went for a 4 year Honors degree...but did it in 2 years. 2 years of unimaginable suffering. I would not go through that again, even if someone paid me to do it. After my second year, I was emotional drained. Had to take a year off for R&R. After recuperating, I then went for my Bed degree.
The moral of this story is that driving hard will get you there in a shorter time...but at a cost. Sometimes, people never get there...and that is sad. Just be carefull.
Posted by: redwench
only 2 hours of homework? i had more than that in high school. i had 2-3 hrs per class every day, unless i was lucky.
at any rate freaky, colleges dont care about your work load, or pretty stuff. unless youre going for a music scholarship or some such, they just want to see grades and test scores.
have you considered auditing the calculus class? that would drop a lot of the pressure.
Posted by: Chako
Lol Red...you take everything so literal! I had more then 2 hours a day... I generally had a few hours total between classes and labs to work on the pile. What I could not finish (the 2 hours), I had to take home with me...not something you want to do after 10 PM. Added incentive to spend every waking moment productively.
Posted by: Bobaroo
 Quote:
Originally posted by redwench
only 2 hours of homework? i had more than that in high school. i had 2-3 hrs per class every day, unless i was lucky.
|
I go in spurts of have homework and then have no homework.
Like tonight I had no homework but last night I was up to 12 doing Rev World. I usually average about 30min-1hour a night. I can get rid of a lot during option and lunch.
Posted by: Kdr Kane
De Freak,
*[I was thinking of C++ but everybody and their brother learns this first and I was thinking maybe of an alternative. ]*
Take it. And take it again and again. That's an order.
I can't find any world-class C++ programmers for any amount of money. World-class C++ programmers can't be had for less than $100K USD.
I know one really good C++ programmer. He's better than anybody else close by. But, his habits keep him from being world-class.
Posted by: TotalRecall
Two hours of homework? Ugh! The only thing I ever spend 2 hours doing a day is programming, at the moment.
I still believe that the least amount of homework is usually best. For example, in math classes, I don't find it of any help to do more examples that are similar.
Freak, go at your own pace. If you want to take Calc. early, go for it. If not, it's probably not going to hurt you too much to wait.
Posted by: Spork Lover
<---academic burnout..... I dont see the problem with taking core classes during the summer. I took two last summer. Aced them both too....
By the time I was a senior in HS I had 24 credit hours racked up, and only need 19 1/2 to graduate. I started College in 2000 and have not had one semester off yet(including summers). That academic burnout syndrome has really gotten me.
Pace yourself. If you want to take summer classes, great, but dont overload yourself, take 1 or 2, so you dont feel like all of your life has just become school school school. It took me a while to learn to pace myself... and then I got a job, and now my life is school school work, school. Oh well, my sacrifices will pay off in the long run(as will yours)
It's good that you are planning ahead, a trait I wish I had when i was in the 10th grade. I was into other things at that time.
Posted by: MLXMariners
Digressing from the topic...:
From what i've heard from a Canadian who moved to the States and is presently in my school, that the Canada math system moves much faster than the USA's. HIs evidence was that when he moved here, in third grade, that he had already "mastered" multiplication in Canada and upon moving here learned that the Americans were just finishing addition and moving onto Multiplication. So basically, he spent the whole year learning absolutely nothing. I dunno if this is true, but I believe him because my parents say the same thing when i moved here.
Regarding ur topic: I believe you should spend the summer having fun, cooling off from vigorous schoolwork, get a job, etc. I am in 10th grade myself, in a similar situation, preparing for honors courses, AP etc..., but it seems to me no matter what u choose, you will be successful.
And BTW, are u applying to Canadian universities or American Universities?
Posted by: MLXMariners
And i was wondering, could u have tooken C++ as a freshman....cuz i know it was one of my options as an elective freshman year. Im not familiar with the Canadian school program.
|
|
|
|
|
